Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Top 3 Reasons to Ride a Rigid SS

Well, at least the top 3 reasons that came to mind after this evening's ride up Dry Creek and down Bobsled (starting and ending from the office):

1. Counterintuitive as it may be, climbing can actually be easier on a rigid single speed compared to suspension and gears (this is a manifestation of the "magic" of my single speed that I can't quite figure out). Case in point being the switchback at the top of Dry Creek and the subsequent 100 yards of trail and The Wall. I had my doubts that I'd be able to get up either of them with 1 gear but somehow I made both.

2. It's fun to say "On your left" as you pass a guy riding a geared bike while climbing The Wall.

3. Dropping into the Bobsled on a fully rigid single speed after nodding to the two downhillers resting on the bench.

RB - I would respectfully disagree with your interpretation of reasons #2 and #3. The feeling was definitely not one of superiority. Those dh guys would have smoked us down the Bobsled, no question. What was fun about the situation was merely the fact that we were able to ride the Bobsled on a rigid ss. The same is basically true of #2. I didn't feel superior when I passed the dude climbing The Wall, just a little faster which was due in no small part to the fact that I had no other option! On a ss you either ride it or hike it. If you're riding a steep climb the odds are good you're going faster than most people with gears. That's obviously not true in all situations, case in point being stupidbike Bob on Tuesday smoking me regardless of whether the trail was climbing, descending or flat!

In other words (and I apologize for using so many in my reponse), #2 and #3 are basically manifestations, or practical examples, of #1.

Since I know UTRider that helped me interpret his post. But I can also see how Ryan jumped to his conclusion.

SS is not a minor difference - like one bike is lighter than another, bigger wheels, different tires, etc. It's a more difficult bike to ride and that leads to more suppositions about the intentions of the rider.